Centre hints at changes in CBFC

 Film certification guidelines need contemporary interpretation and they should be made as non-discretionary as possible, the Centre said on Saturday, hinting at major changes in the outlook of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

“In most countries, there is a mechanism for certifying films and documentaries, but it has to be ensured that in doing so, artistic creativity and freedom do not get curtailed. Film certification guidelines need contemporary interpretation and they should be made as non-discretionary as possible,” Minister for Information and Broadcasting Arun Jaitley said during a meeting with veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal, head of the expert committee to recommend broad guidelines for certification of films by the Censor Board.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col (retd) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that the committee would provide a holistic framework for interpretation of the provisions of Cinematograph Act and Rules for the benefit of the chairperson and other members of the CBFC screening committee.

“There is a need to move towards a new system of grading films in terms of age, maturity, sensibility and sensitivity, instead of censorship,” said Benegal.

Members of the committee, noted filmmaker Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra, advertising and communication expert  Piyush Pandey, veteran film journalist and author Bhawana Somayaa, NFDC managing director Nina Lath Gupta and joint secretary, films, Sanjay Murthy, were present. The committee will study the existing procedure being followed by CBFC for certification of original films, their dubbed versions as well as recertification of films for screening on other media platforms.